What We’re Reading

What We’re Reading

‘Solar for coal’ swaps: A financial innovation that could accelerate the carbon transition

An innovative new financial approach is accelerating the electric sector’s financial transition from coal to clean. “Solar for coal swaps” could help refinance the 26 GW of existing coal plants that will be uneconomic compared to local renewables in the near term, using private capital to fund community-level investment for publicly-owned cooperative retail utilities, while supporting local economic development. Read more →

What We’re Reading

Five trends: U.S. cities and counties are going renewable

Cities have been a major contributor to climate change, accounting for more than 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. But in recent years, a growing number of cities across the United States have enacted and acted on new renewable energy goals. A new tool from the American Cities Climate Challenge Renewables Accelerator, the Local Government Renewables Action Tracker, showcases renewable energy deals made by U.S. cities, counties, tribal governments, municipal utilities and community choice aggregations since 2015. Read more →

What We’re Reading

Green energy ratchets up power during coronavirus pandemic

Renewable power has taken up a record share of global electricity production since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, suggesting a transition away from fossil fuels could be accelerated in the coming years. The past few months have shown that renewable energy has become more dependable, sector experts say, accounting for well over half of output in some European countries, while grid operators proved they could successfully manage larger doses of fluctuating energy flows. Read more →

What We’re Reading

Apple pledges to be carbon neutral by 2030

Apple is pledging to become carbon neutral across its business, including its mostly overseas supply chain by 2030. Within the next 10 years, the tech giant will ensure every Apple device sold will have been produced with no net release of carbon into the atmosphere. The company also plans to reduce its emissions by 75% and develop carbon-removal solutions for the remaining 25% of its footprint. Read more →

What We’re Reading

Battery adoption skyrocketed in the 2010s and lithium-ion reigns supreme

At-a-Glance: A new report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Battery Storage in the United States: An Update on Market Trends, analyzes how large-scale battery storage capacity increased exponentially in the latter half of the 2010’s and what drove this rapid adjustment. From 2010 to 2018, the amount of installed battery capacity increased more than tenfold. Read more →

What We’re Reading

Harnessing renewable power in baseball stadiums

Major League Baseball has made some major strides in adapting to important world changes, especially when it comes to the environment. Most teams in the league have already made efforts to put forth more sustainable practices on and off the field. Some stadiums are even starting to harness the power of renewable energy. Read more →

What We’re Reading

20% of all US energy consumed in 2019 was from non-fossil generation

The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s latest Monthly Energy Review report found overall energy consumption in the United States hit 100 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu), nearly matching the all-time record set in 2018. Additionally, non-fossil generation sources accounted for 20% of all energy consumed, the highest mark in history. Read more →

What We’re Reading

Why Advocates of 100% Clean Energy Must Overcome the ‘Resource Adequacy’ Challenge

Transitioning to 100 percent clean power is more complicated than just adding renewables and storage. Adding variable, fuel-free resources to the grid requires major changes in power system planning to ensure reliability — what grid operators call “resource adequacy.” Failing to address outdated resource-adequacy models puts the clean-energy transformation at risk. Read more →

What We’re Reading

Ford commits to carbon neutrality by 2050

Ford Motor Company has announced a plan to achieve carbon neutrality world-wide by 2050. Ford is the only full line U.S. automaker committed to doing its part to reduce CO2 emissions in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and working with California for stronger vehicle greenhouse gas standards. Read more →

What We’re Reading

NREL study backs hydrogen for long-duration storage

At-a-Glance: A study released by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) indicates pumped hydro and compressed air energy storage will soon be cost-effective for day-long storage, while hydrogen for long-duration storage will be cost-effective by 2050 or sooner. To learn more, read this article in PV Magazine titled “NREL study backs hydrogen for long-duration storage”. Read more →

What We’re Reading

Power-to-gas proves least expensive path to net-zero

At-a-Glance: Carbon-neutral with power-to-gas is the least expensive option for U.S. utilities trying to reach 100% carbon reduction within the operations of energy grid networks over a period of 20 years, according to a new whitepaper released by Wärtsilä. To learn more, read this article on Smart Energy International titled “Power-to-gas proves least expensive path Read more →

What We’re Reading

Waste to deliver green hydrogen in California

At-a-Glance: Ways2H, a global producer of renewable hydrogen, and Ford, Bacon & Davis, a leader in energy facility engineering, procurement and construction, will design and build modular waste-to-hydrogen facilities in California in the final quarter of 2020. Other facilities throughout the country are planned in 2021 to produce renewable hydrogen fuel for customers in the Read more →